SAN FRANCISCO, June 14 - History, a brutally tough course , the weather and form will combine to produce one of the most unpredictable U.S. Opens in decades when the year's second Major tees off at The Olympic Club in San Francisco on Thursday, and OneAsia has a strong interest in the event.
The United States Golf Association gives OneAsia 25 automatic places to sectional qualifying, and Australian Anthony Summers -- a tour member since its formation in 2009 -- won in Chicago last week to claim a place in the elite field.
"This really is a massive week," Summers said. "I really haven't seen anything like this before. Even the practice rounds have been something bigger than anything I've ever done."
Summers said the key to a successful round for him at the Olympic Club would be not being too adventurous off the tee.
"I don't think I'll be using driver much," he said. "My aim will be to put a three wood in the fairway, try to get on or close to the green with my next shot and then take my chances with getting up and down.
"Anything close to par will be good for 18 holes."
South Koreans Bae Sang-moon and Kim Kyung-tae, both OneAsia members who were instrumental in helping the tour's growth and popularity, are also looking forward to the challenge.
"This is a very tough course and you really have to play it carefully," said Bae, a two-time winner on OneAsia and also a runner up on the PGA tour this year.
"Stay out of the rough," said Kim, who finished second on the OneAsia Order of Merit last year. "If you can do that you should be able to have a good round."
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About the only thing that organizers, players, pundits and fans can agree on, is that anyone under par at the end of 72 holes on Sunday is likely to be very close to the top of the leader board.
"Even is a good score … one over would be acceptable," said Phil Mickelson, one of the favourites for the event, who tees off early in a dream flight that includes Tiger Woods and reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson.
The Olympic has staged four U.S. Opens in the past and on each occasion a less fancied player has produced something special to beat a front-runner and claim the crown.
Jack Fleck beat the great Ben Hogan in a play-off in 1955; Billy Caspar came from seven shots back to overhaul Arnold Palmer in the final round in 1966; Scott Simpson beat a Tom Watson near his prime by a stroke in 1987; and Lee Janzen pipped Payne Stewart by a shot in 1998.
Janzen's winning four-round total that year was a level par 280, and since then the course has been both lengthened and toughened -- and now includes the longest hole in the history of the tournament, the 670-yard (613-metre) par five 16th.
The par 70 course is set up to produce compelling drama, with the opening six holes arguably the toughest ever conceived, and then the only two par fives on the card appearing at 16 and 17 to ensure birdie opportunities down the final stretch.
To put it into perspective, the Course Rating (the score a scratch golfer is expected to make) is set at 77.1, while the Slope Rating (the score an 18 handicapper is likely to shoot) is 150!
The weather could also play a part in the first two days, with fog and mist predicted and cold breezy conditions in the morning.
When it comes to form, a rash of young players now dominate the recent world rankings, and chief amongst them is reigning U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy.
"This week is going to be very tough for everyone. It's a tough course. All aspects of your game have got to be on," he said after his practice round on Wednesday.
With victory at the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago, Woods has again been installed as favourite, and the 14-time major winner is relishing the toughness of the course.
"I've always preferred it to be more difficult, there's no doubt. And I've always preferred it to be fast," he said.
"I just like a fast golf course, because then you have to shape shots. You have to think."
About OneAsia
OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize tournament opportunities for the best players in the Asia-Pacific region. The founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. Our elite suite of tournaments includes the national Opens of Australia, China, Indonesia, Korea and Thailand, as well as numerous other prestigious events.
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